One of the best aspects of going back to school growing up was back to school shopping. Whether it was a new pair of Nike sneakers, a new Jansport backpack or a new Weezer T-shirt (my favorite band in high school), I was always excited to get back to school to show off my new gear.

This past summer I had that same feeling, but not because of my clothes. Over the summer the arc Drop-In Center in Room B-24 received a much needed makeover. Thanks to the steady hand of Rafael Dominguez, arc Site Coordinator at Maywood Academy, as well as South Gate High students, junior Kane Trujillo and senior Oscar Corona, our home now looks sleek and welcoming.

“Seeing the room change from being kind of dirty to making it a better room for years to come — yet still having all the memories of the old arc room – was a great experience,” said Kane Trujillo about the transformation. He continued, “Knowing I could be a part of something bigger than myself is an exciting thing.”

We encourage all students, staff and faculty to come by and visit our newly renovated Drop-In Center. We look forward to an adventurous and fun year. Good luck SGHS! Let’s make 2016-17 a great school year together!

The California Afterschool and Summer Challenge has for years served as an opportunity to educate and empower education professionals, families and youth on advocacy efforts to advance the out of school time field. Therefore, we are excited to highlight arc and their continued commitment to advocacy, both at the event and after. arc’s experience below is one example of how the Challenge has allowed individuals in the afterschool field to more closely interact with their state representatives and really show the importance of the out-of-school time field.

Get regular updates with the latest in education news. Topics include best practices, justice and equity in education, immigrant youth & students of color, LGBTQ+ youth, funding pipelines, accessibility, mental health, and more.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Long-Term Effects of Social-Justice Education on Black Students
A new study shows such courses prompted self-exploration and openness in marginalized kids. Black alumni of the class, many years after graduating, uniformly credited the social-justice course for provoking a process of self-exploration that altered their sense of justice and influenced their self-identity. Eleven of the 13 reported identifying or revising career interests while taking the course, prioritizing professions to improve their community.

Nearly 1 in 4 students at this L.A. high school migrated from Central America — many without their parents
In Los Angeles’ Belmont High, nearly 1 in 4 of the school’s estimated 1,000 students came from Central America — many of them as unaccompanied minors. They crossed the border to reunite with mothers and fathers or to find refuge from unprecedented gang violence at home. Some dare to dream they will find success in America, not just the means to survive. Belmont Principal Kristen McGregor said it has forced the school to reimagine its role in its students’ lives.

LBGTQ+ HISTORY

California’s students will soon learn more LGBT history in schools
California’s students will soon be learning more about LGBT people and their struggles after state education officials voted to include contributions from the community in history and social science instruction. The California State Board of Education on Thursday voted unanimously on a new History-Social Science Framework that includes “a study of the role of contributions” of minority groups, including “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.”

Get regular updates with the latest in education news. Topics include best practices, justice and equity in education, immigrant youth & students of color, LGBTQ+ youth, funding pipelines, accessibility, mental health, and more.

BEST PRACTICES

Meet the new L.A. Unified student board member
It’s hard to be an effective politician when your vote doesn’t even count. Karen Calderon has a plan for that… she plans to dig into the issues she cares about — financial literacy, access to better drinking water, rigorous graduation standards — before board meetings. To make her voice count, she wants to talk to board members when they’re making the decisions.

Science proves it: Girl Scouts really do make the world a better place
For decades, Girl Scouts have pledged to make the world a better place. Now there’s scientific proof that they do. After completing five hourlong courses on energy conservation, Junior-level Girl Scouts boosted their households’ energy-saving activities by as much as 49%, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Energy.

DIVERSITY

For LGBTQ Students, Author Says, Safety Is ‘Not Enough’
Safety for LGBTQ students is critical, but inclusive policies shouldn’t stop there, author Michael Sadowski argues in his new book. Sadowski criticizes strategies that aim for safety as their end goal. Safety is an important goal, he writes— “a critical baseline from which all subsequent work must follow.” But, he tells NPR, “would we accept safety as the one and only goal for any other population of students? Why do LGBTQ kids have to settle for safety as the only thing they can expect from the adults who run their schools?”

The people taking care of American children live in poverty
The people paid to watch America’s children tend to live in poverty. Nearly half receive some kind of government assistance: food stamps, welfare checks, Medicaid. Their median hourly wage is $9.77 — about $3 below the average janitor’s.

Get regular updates with the latest in the world of education. Topics include best practices, justice and equity in education, immigrant youth & students of color, LGBTQ+ youth, funding pipelines, accessibility, mental health, and more.

Why It’s Never Too Late To Rescue Failing Students
So how does it work? The five volunteers act as a team. For example, one drives to the student’s house to pick her up for school. A few hours later, another goes to the school to see if she’s still there. If she’s not, another volunteer goes back to the house to drive her back to school.

Immigrant Heritage Month: In Their Own Words
Diversity of all types – race, ethnicity, national origin and economic status, family structure and gender identity, sexual orientation and disability status, religion or native language – benefits all students. Diversity is not a nicety but a necessity. In honor of Immigrant Heritage Month, these educators share their personal stories in their own words.